Mixer fob internal combustion



1941- R. E. SCHMIDT 2,230,669

MIXER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 1, 1939 Inventor A? /d E 22; v

A iiorneys Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE Richard E. Schmidt, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Harry W.

Cullen, Catonsville, Md.

Application May 1, 1939, Serial No. 271,212

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a mixer for internal combustion engines, and the primary purpose of the device is to efliciently introduce crankcase fumes and vapors with atmospheric air at a lower temperature than said fumes and vapors into the intake manifold of an engine between the carbureter and firing chambers of said engine for mixing with the explosive fuel and which will assure a thorough mixing of the fumes and vapors with the atmospheric air prior to reaching said explosive fuel so that when mixed therewith and consumed by the engine will provide improved engine performance, such as smoother operation, more power and less consumption of fuel, and also will lubricate the valves of the engine and reduce crankcase dilution to a minimum, all of which is accomplished without the employment of moving parts and may be readily adjusted to vary the amount of fumes and vapors with atmospheric air admitted to the fuel so as to meet needs of the engine which may vary under different conditions.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating an internal combustion engine equipped with a mixer constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the latter connected to a breather pipe of the engine and an intake manifold of said engine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the mixer.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4: is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a fragmentary portion of an internal combustion engine, the intake manifold thereof being indicated by the character 6 and the crankcase breather pipe by the character I. The carbureter 8 is shown connected to the intake manifold and tapped into the manifold between the carbureter and the firing chambers of the engine is a mixer 9 forming the subject matter of the present invention.

The mixer 9 primarily consists of a body II] in which are formed superimposed turbulence chambers H and I2 having communication by a restricted passage l3. An inlet neck H5 is formed on the body and connects with the turbulence chamber II by a Venturi passage l5 arranged in direct alignment with the passage l3. The inlet neck l4 extends angularly to the body I0 and is at the lower end of the latter and is equipped with a fitting 16 for connecting thereto a pipe or tube H, the latter being tapped into the breather pipe I at a selected distance from the air intake end thereof or the end which is in communication with the atmosphere.

An outlet neck i8 is formed on the upper portion of the body and in communication with the turbulence chamber I2 laterally of the restricted passage l3 and is provided with a fitting l9 threaded into an opening provided in the intake manifold 6 between the firing chambers of the engine and the carbureter 8. The outlet neck 3 has a restricted passage 20, one end of which forms a seat which may be engaged by a needle type valve 2| threaded in the body, as shown at .22, and equipped on its outer end with a knurled finger piece 24 and a lock nut 25 adapted to be turned against the body for locking the needle valve in any of its adjusted'positions.

Th mixer 9 connected to the intake manifold as shown and described and to the breather pipe will have created therein a vacuum due to the operation of the engine. This partial vacuum will draw from the breather pipe 1 crankcase vapors and fumes along with atmospheric air taken in at the inlet end of the breather medium, As the crankcase fumes and vapors and atmospheric air pass into the body they must after leaving the inlet neck pass through the restricted passage [5 which increases the velocity thereof and on leaving the restricted passage are allowed to expand into the turbulence chamber H and again caused to pass through the restricted passage l3 increasing the velocity thereof and again permitted to expand into the turbulence chamber l2 and on passing from the latter through the restricted passage 20 into the intake manifold the fumes and vapors and atmospheric air are thoroughly and eificiently mixed so that on commingling with the fuel passing from the carbureter to the engine will produce a highly combustible fuel capable of increasing the engine performance by materially increasing power, smoothness of operation and r bring about a reduction in the consumption of fuel by the engine.

The crankcase Vapors and fumes besides containing particles of lubricant also will contain unspent gases which have escaped into the crankcase from the firing chambers of the engine past the pistons. These unspent gases which when mixed with the atmospheric air and with the fuel from the carbureter will provide an explosive mixture capable of producing maximum performance by the engine. The atmospheric air entering the pipe I! will be of a lower temperature than the fumes and vapors obtained from the crankcase of the engine tending tocool these vapors and fumes and thereby bring about a more efiicient mixture for the introduction into the fuel passing from the carbureter to the fir ing chambers of the engine.

The walls of the turbulencechamber Ii hay formed thereon spirally arranged'ribs 26 acting impart thereto a swirling action which will bring about a thorough mixing of the fumes, .vapors and atmospheric air. The flow of the vapors, fumes and atmospheric air through the body as heretofore described will be first caused to increase the velocity thereof and then allowed to expand and again increase in the velocity thereof and again allowed to expand, and with the use of the spirally arranged ribs brings about the mosteiifective mixing of the fumes, vapors and atmospheric air. The amount of the vapors, fumes and atmospheric air when mixed together may be varied to the intake manifold through the adjustment of the needle valve 2| with respect to the outlet passage 20. The mixing of the fumes, vapors and atmospheric air is entirely carried out without the use of moving parts, consequently providing a durable device capable of successful use for an indefinite period of time on the engine.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawing will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to Which such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a mixer of the class described, a body having upper and lower turbulence chambers connected by a vertically arranged passage decreasing in size from the lower end thereof to the upper end, one of said chambers being of an area smaller than the area of the other chamber and having irregular wall construction, an inlet neck "formed on said body and. having a restricted discharge connecting with the lower chamber in vertical alignment with said passage, an outlet neckiormed on said body and connecting with the upper chamber laterally of and in a plane above said passage, a spirally shaped rib formed 'on the body and located in the lower chamber between said inlet neck and the passage, a valve seat formed in the outlet neck, and a needle valve threaded in the body opposite said outlet neck to coact with the seat.

2. In a mixer of the class described, a body having turbulence chambers and a passage decreasing in size-from one end to its opposite end and connecting said chambers, one of said chambers being of an area smaller than the area of the other chamber and having irregular wall construction, necks formed on said body, one of said necks having a restricted discharge end connecting with one of the chambers and in alignment with said passage, and the other neck having communication with the other chamber laterally of said passage, a spirally shaped rib formed on the body and located in the larger chamber, a valve seat located in one of the necks, and a needle valve threaded in the body to coact with the seat.

- RICHARD E. SCHMIDT. 

